SENATE ADDS
FEINGOLD ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURE TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY BILL
Feingold's Provision in Stimulus is Part of E4 Initiative to Fuel
Job Creation
February 7, 2009
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate added a measure to the economic recovery package authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold to help create jobs by supporting energy efficiency projects. The Feingold provision will boost job growth and help businesses and homeowners go green by expanding the types of projects that are eligible for the Qualified Energy Conservation Bond (QECB) program. Programs like Milwaukee’s proposed Me2 program that support green-collar jobs installing energy efficiency upgrades in buildings are among the programs that would be eligible for these bonds. Feingold’s amendment was accepted to the economic recovery bill and is based on his Community Revitalization Energy Conservation (CREC) Act, S. 222, part of his E4 initiative aimed at fueling job creation and spurring economic development. In addition to expanding the types of energy efficiency projects that are eligible to receive funding, Feingold also supported efforts to increase the funding for the QECB program from $800 million to $3.2 billion, more than a 300 percent increase. Feingold’s legislation, S. 222, proposed a similar funding increase.
“I am pleased that the Senate included my amendment and increased funding for the QECB program that will help create jobs while also addressing our urgent energy needs,” Feingold said. “I’ve heard from business and labor leaders and others in Wisconsin about the tremendous potential for energy efficiency retrofits to generate more green-collar jobs. My amendment could also help to launch programs like Milwaukee’s Me2 program throughout Wisconsin and the nation at a time when our economy is in so much trouble.”
New projects eligible for the bonds will include those that help reduce energy use in privately owned buildings, particularly projects that reduce the upfront costs homeowners and businesses must pay for energy efficiency and conservation upgrades. Projects that could qualify for the funding include heat-saving measures like insulation, electricity-saving measures like lighting and appliances, water-saving measures like low-flow shower heads and toilets, renewable energy generating devices like photovoltaic solar installations, storm water management like rain barrels, or other measures that also result in reduced energy use.
This amendment is cosponsored by Senator Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI) and endorsed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America,
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Apollo Alliance, National
Electrical Contractors Association, National SAVE Energy Coalition, and
the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association.